As the procession exited the palace gates, she spotted her elder brother and Bai Hua waiting in the distance. Bai Hua waved energetically upon seeing her, calling out, "Miss!" Chu Yanzhi quickened her pace toward them.
"How did it go?" her elder brother asked softly as she approached.
Chu Yanzhi shook her head, her eyes still crinkled with a smile, and replied in a gentle, soft voice,
"I passed the initial selection. Nothing much happened."
Her elder brother nodded, and without further conversation, they hurried home.
By the time Chu Yanzhi returned to her room, dusk had already begun to settle. After Bai Hua helped her wash up and change clothes, Chu Yanzhi dismissed her.
Once everyone had left, Chu Yanzhi lay down on her bed.
"System?"
"—I'm here."
"Open the Attribute Panel."
"Host Information:
Name: Chu Yanzhi
Age: 15 years old
Points: 100
Attribute Points: 5
Attributes:
Voice: 70 (Fairly pleasant)
Appearance: 75 (Fresh as a lotus)
Figure: 65 (Are you an airport runway?)
Hair: 65 (Slightly better than dry grass)
Talent: 60 (This is the original owner's; you got lucky)
Stamina: 60
Items: Purple Jade Bracelet (increases Favorability when worn), one map, one Favorability Counter.
Does the Host wish to make changes?"
Chu Yanzhi examined the attributes carefully, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. They were too low, she thought, pursing her lips. She then asked,
"How do I use the map?"
"—Open it upon entering the imperial palace. It will display the locations of target individuals.—"
As for the Favorability Counter, she didn’t need to ask. Having read a few novels in her previous life, she had a rough idea of its function. Chu Yanzhi scrutinized the Attribute Points.
"Add 3 points to Figure and 2 points to Talent."
"Modification successful!
Host Information:
Name: Chu Yanzhi
Age: 15 years old
Points: 100
Attribute Points: 0
Attributes:
Voice: 70 (Fairly pleasant)
Appearance: 75 (Fresh as a lotus)
Figure: 68 (Slightly better than an airport runway)
Hair: 65 (Slightly better than dry grass)
Talent: 62 (A passing familiarity with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting)
Stamina: 60
Items: Purple Jade Bracelet (increases Favorability when worn), one map, one Favorability Counter."
Chu Yanzhi looked over the attributes, finally satisfied that they had improved somewhat. Then, glancing at her Points, she inquired, "Can I buy things now?"
"—The Mall can only be opened after completing the first task.—"
"Alright, I understand."
Chu Yanzhi felt a slight disappointment but didn’t dwell on it.
Two days passed quickly, and the day of the re-selection arrived.
This time, unlike the initial selection where only a few eunuchs conducted the inspections, several imperial consorts would be making the selections. The Emperor would not be present, so one’s attire and appearance should not be too eye-catching.
Chu Yanzhi wore a plain white silk gown with a slightly trailing hem. Brown silk threads embroidered peach branches stretching from the collar down to the waist, while pink silk threads formed delicate, vibrant peach blossoms. It was not overly conspicuous, yet it ensured she wouldn’t be underestimated.
As Chu Yanzhi gazed at the long line of candidates, she recalled what her grandmother had told her yesterday about several key figures in this selection of beauties. One was the Empress Dowager’s niece and the Emperor’s legitimate cousin, Mu Qianqian; another was the Empress’s younger sister, Ji Qiyu—rumored to be because the central palace had been without an heir for years, and the Duke of De’s mansion was growing anxious. Then there were the long-renowned top beauty of the capital, Li Manyun, and the top talented lady, Du Mirou.